After the successful conclusion of the TBO 2019 spring regular season, the playoffs are well underway and the early rounds have displayed some very close and exciting contests.
In the second/third grade division, team Camp Shalom prevailed 4-2 over team Jump Into Shape, just barely holding on for the win after their opponents had bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the final inning. Led by excellent pitching by Ariel Rubin, Yonah Last and Eitan Fisher, their solid defense was able to get the strikeouts and groundouts needed to hold on for the win.
In the fourth/fifth grade division, team Clifton Pediatric Dental Care was able to mount a dramatic comeback and win 8-4 after falling behind 4-0 in the first inning against team Treepointplay. The comeback was due to solid pitching by Yamin Levitt and Daniel Eckman, who each pitched three innings, as well as excellent catching by Eitan Goldwasser and clutch hits by Ilan Sugarman and Moshe Lansey. Nati Fischman even reached base all three times he was at bat.
Also in the fourth/fifth grade division, team Cool Kippahs and team Wine Country Bergenfield competed in an exciting playoff game that reached extra winnings. The first six innings of regulation play featured a pitchers duel in which neither team scored. Ryan Teller and Benji Shiner each pitched three scoreless innings for Wine Country Bergenfield, and Jonah Nayowitz and Eli Hochberg each pitched three scoreless innings for Cool Kippahs. Cool Kippahs took the lead in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Avinoam Eiselt that drove in Micky Cyrulnik. Max Eckstein then drove in a second insurance run and Cal Rose pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh to close out the 2-0 victory.
In the sixth/seventh grade division, team Duff & Phelps was able to defeat team Arcar Motors due to impressive pitching from Noam Eckman and Shalom Spraragen, as well as powerful hitting by Tommy Newman and Josh Knoll, each of whom drove in RBIs. In addition to aggressive base running by Sam Fuchs, Avraham Schur, Moshe Levy and Yonatan Brothman, catcher Joey Weisberg excited the crowd after he dove to tag out a runner trying to steal home. In the semifinal round, team Richards Manufacturing edged team Duff & Phelps 8-7 in seven innings. Richards got a solid performance from Gavi Greenspan on the mound and great pitching from Shay and Abie Fields, who also each had multiple hits.
In the eighth grade division, team PBI ended the season with a come from behind walkoff win against Tenafly after falling behind 5-0 in the first inning. Led by pitchers Eli Knapp and Ezra Halpert, the team entered the bottom of the last inning down 6-5, but got key hits from Yosef Weiner and Stephan Nayowitz, and with their aggressive base running, put together an impressive rally to earn the win. After playing the season on a full 90-foot regulation size baseball diamond, the players developed their skills and are ready to play high school baseball next year.
By JLNJ Sportsdesk
